The Role of Pharmacotherapy in Perioperative Management of Patients with Acromegaly

The major complications of acromegaly, including cardioand cerebrovascular disease and respiratory and metabolic dysfunction, are associated with a significant increase in morbidity and mortality (1–3). These complications are well known to be major risk factors in perioperative patients, especially the elderly (4–8). Therefore, controlling cardioand cerebrovascular disease, pulmonary dysfunction, and hyperglycemia is important in patients undergoing anesthesia and surgery. This review evaluates the rationale for administering somatostatin analog treatment before either transsphenoidal resection of a GH-secreting pituitary adenoma or any other surgical procedure requiring general anesthesia in the patient with uncontrolled acromegaly.